Key Compliance Deadlines

• January 1, 2017: Mandatory for all new dwellings and substantial renovations.

• January 1, 2022: Mandatory for all leased/rental properties and properties being sold.

• January 1, 2027: Final deadline for all remaining private, owner-occupied homes.

Smoke alarms must be located:

• • on each storey

  • in all bedrooms

  • in hallways that connect bedrooms to the rest of the house

  • if there's no hallway, between bedrooms and other parts of the storey

  • if there are no bedrooms on a storey, at least one smoke alarm must be installed in the most likely path of travel to exit the home

• All smoke alarms must be the photoelectric type.

• Smoke alarms must be either hardwired to your home's mains power supply with a battery backup, or 10-year non-removable lithium battery powered alarms.

• Smoke alarms are required to be interconnected with every smoke alarm in the dwelling so if one is triggered all activate together providing the best and earliest warning of a fire.

• Interconnection can be either wired or wireless.

• Photoelectric smoke alarms only, Ionisation style smoke alarms should no longer be used to replace or upgrade old alarms.

NOTE: Smoke alarms must not be placed within 300mm of a corner of a ceiling and a wall; 300mm of a light fitting; 400mm of an air-conditioning vent or 400mm of the blades of a ceiling fan.

Key Replacement Rules

• 10-Year Lifespan: Smoke alarms degrade over time and lose sensitivity after 10 years from their manufacture date, this applies to hard wired and lithium battery models.

• Legal Obligation: Under Queensland law, any smoke alarm that reaches 10 years of age—or fails a test—must be replaced immediately.

• Manufacture Date: You can find the expiry or manufacture date printed on a sticker on the back or side of the alarm body.

• Electrical Safety: Hardwired 240V alarms must be replaced by a licensed electrician, whereas 10-year lithium battery alarms can usually be swapped by the homeowner

SMOKE ALARM DESIGN 

1. New homes or renovations 

Main alarm

R240P Professional

• 240V hardwired

• Photoelectric

• 9V backup battery

• Hardwired interconnection

• Can be upgraded to RF with the RFMOD module if required

• 140 mm slide base (great for replacing older alarms) 

Use this wherever you have cable access.

2. Existing homes where running cables is difficult

Main alarm

R10RFP Professional

• Photoelectric

• 10-year sealed lithium battery

• Built-in RF wireless

• No wiring required

• Professional series

• 120 mm base 

Perfect for:

• Hallways

• Existing bedrooms

• Extensions

• Cathedral ceilings

3. Hybrid System

Example:

Ground Floor

• 3 × R240P hardwired alarms

Upstairs

• 2 × R10RFP wireless alarms

Garage

• 1 × RF Heat Alarm (where appropriate)

Controller

• 1 × RACP Wireless Wall Controller

Everything operates as one interconnected system. If any alarm activates, they all sound, regardless of whether they're hardwired or wireless—provided the hardwired units are fitted with the appropriate RF capability (such as the RFMOD module) or use compatible RF-enabled bases/models. 

4. Wall Controller - Not every brand has this option but is highly recommended.

RACP Wireless Wall Controller

Functions:

✔ Test all alarms

✔ Silence nuisance alarms

✔ Locate the initiating alarm

✔ Memory function

✔ Wall mounted or handheld

For customers with:

• 2.7 m ceilings

• Raked ceilings

• Two-storey homes

• Elderly occupants

this is an easy upgrade that adds real convenience.